Coin counting mechanism



Oct. 31, 1933. B. s. WALLICK 1,933,032

COIN COUNTING MECHANISM Filed July 8, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 31, 1933. B. s. WALLICK COIN COUNTING MECHANISM Filed July 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 31, 1933. B. s. WALLICK 1,933,082

COIN COUNTING MECHANISM Filed July 8, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATEN'T;

OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a coin counting mechanism adapted to register the sum of coins of different denominations passing through the machine.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device for counting coins of different denominations, the amount of registration being controlled by the sizes of the various coins. A second object is to provide sucha device of extreme simplicity and yet sure in operation.

' While devices adapted to accomplish this result are well known, the present invention is an improvement on former mechanisms because of its simplicity, strength, and cheapness. The mechanism is positive in its operation, and is easily worked by mere backward and forward movement of the handle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent below. The invention will appear more fully from the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device in its casing.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view removed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

' Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary views of the connecting mechanism between the crank and the counter with coins of different values.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the main wheel on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6. l

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the pawl carrier.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the pawl and ratchet.

In the embodiment of the invention chosen for purposes of illustration, a machine adapted to count nickels, dimes, and quarters is described. In the counter, nickels count once, dimes twice, and quarters five times, and the sum is thus five times the amount registered by the counter. Of course, the device can easily be modified to coins of other denominations, or to count the total in cents rather than'in multiples of five.

In the embodiment here described, 2 is a wooden base in which slides a drawer 4, which catches coins which have passed through the machine. Upon the base 2 is a casing 6 which covers the mechanism. In the side of the-casing is a slot 8 through which the main shaft 10 of the device passes, and upon the outer end of the shaft the driving handle or crank 12 is secured by set screw 14. In the top of the casing 6 are a slot 16 through which the coins are dropped and a window 18 which gives a View of the register of the counter mechanism 20. i

The main shaft 10 is mounted in the upper ends 24 and 26 of a V-shaped member 22, the bottom of which is secured to the base 2. On the shaft between the ends 24 and 26 of the V-shaped with the casing member'are the main wheel 28, secured to the shaft, and the pawl carrier 30 and counter actuating wheel each free on the shaft. Upon the end of the shaft outside the support 26 is a. ratchet segment 34 secured to the shaft. The main wheel 28 and. ratchet segment 34 are held [in place on the wheel by set screws or similar means, so that they can be adjusted easily.

The mainwheel '28 consists of a flat circular disc having a circular groove 36 between the center and the circumference and av circular flange 38 around the circumference, the flange and groove bothlying on the inner side of the wheel. At one point a gap 40 is left in the flange wide enough to permit the passage ofthe largest coin for which the device is intended, in this instance a quarter. Upon the flange on one side of the opening is a lug 42, generally designated as 42, the body thereof extending beyond the periphery of wheel 28 to form a lug portion 42', this portion being of sufficient height to engage with a stop 90 which will be later referred to. Disposed rearwardly of lug portion 42 and integral with lug 42 is an inwardly extending lug portion 42",the function of which will be explained later. Thebottom of whiohisat such a distance from the center that the largest coin to be counted, a quarter, when supported in the coin holder 56 on the pawl carrier, to be de-- scribed later, will strike the lug as shown in Fig.

.4, while the next smaller coin, a nickel, may pass beneath the lug. This lug is placed near the. outer side of the flange 38.

At a different point onthe flange is a secon lug 44, adapted to strike a nickel held by the coin holder which has passed beneaththe lug 42 as shown in Fig. 5. The flange is'tapered down as at 46 to the opening 40 beneath the lug. 42, so that as the wheel turns past a nickel in the coin holder the top of the nickel is pushed inwardly so that it will ride along the flange until the lug 44 engages it."

The flange is spaced from the center by a distance suflicient to permit a dime held in the coin holder to pass beneath the flange, while a nickel cannot do this and must ride on the flange. At apoint between the two lugs, the flange is extended inwardly a short distance as at 48, so that. the extension will strike a dime held in the coin-holder, but. will not strike a nickel, since the top of the nickel rides on the flange.

. The lugs 42, 44 and flange extension48 are so spaced around the circumference of the wheel that within the limits of movement of the wheel the lug 42 will move five times as far past the vertical from the initial position shown in Fig. 4 as the lug 44, while the corner 50 of flange extension 46 moves twice. as far as lug 44. In this way a differential action is achieved for the various coins. Beyond the lug 44 is an opening 52 through which any coins small enough to pass both the lugs and the flange extension will fall, so as to be separated from the counted coins. In this way only the coins which have been curated by the mechanism fall into the drawer 4.

The pawl carrier is shown in detail in Fig. 8. It consists of a member 64 free on the shaft 10.

On the side next to the main wheel 28 is the.

coin holder 56, consisting of a member having posts upstanding on either side, one 0! these posts 58 rising higher than the other. On the inner side between the posts is a thin sheet of metal 60 which prevents the bottom of a coin from slipping out of the holder in one direc- -tlon, while the main wheel 28 prevents its movecount in the other direction. In the normal pool! the device, the coin holder is directly the slot 16 and the gap .40 in the flange no that a coin dropped into the slot will fall intothe holder. It is thus clear that if a coin h dropped into the slot. and the main wheel is turned by the handle 12, any coin oi! the proper tion will be held between one of the m on the main wheel and the post 58 d 1121a coin holder and the coin holder will be "firmed with the main wheel. The amount of t o! the holder depends on the particulll' mom used; that is, with a quarter, the conauction with the main wheel will be made almost at the 0! its movement and the holder till turn almost as far as the main wheel. With a nickel. however, the connection will not be established until the main wheel has turned to the position shown in Fig. 5, at which time the wheel has completed tour-fifths of its permitted nt, and the coin holder is only moved mom one-firth of the movement of the wheel. Intlmesamewamwithadimaas showninFig. 6, the connection is established when the main wheel has accomplished three-fifths or its move mat, and the coin holder is moved through tlo-flrthsot the movement of the main wheel.

Upon the other side of the member 64 is a plate 62 having a plurality of notches imdtl miter edge. Adjacent to the plate 62 is I- seeond member 64 tree on the shaft, and carrying an integral arm 66. In the outer end or the arm 66 is a bolt 68, engageable with the matches in the edge of plate 62, so that the arm uturnewlththeplate 62 andthus withthe com carrier. On the other end of bolt 68 a M1 '10 is pivoted In the back of the pawl is plot 12 in which one end of a spring wire '14 m, the other end or the spring being secured to the plate 62, thus pressing the pawl towards the shaft 10. In this way the pawl turns with the coin holder and thus differentially with the main wheel 28.

The counter actuating wheel consists of a ratchet wheel 76 engaged by the pawl and a pin wheel 32 which operates the arm of the on. Both these wheels are secured to a member 78 free to turn on the shaft. The pin wheel 32 has a number-oi long teeth so which engage the pin 84 on the arm 82 or a counter mechanism ct any well known type in which the oscillation of an arm registers once for each complete oscillation. The counter mechanism is on an upright 118 fixed to the base 2 lidjaoent the pin wheel. The teeth are so that within the space 0! the roll pertitted movement of the main wheel 28 there are Me teeth. As the pin wheel 32 turns, the pin etwlll beratsed by a tooth 80, and when it passes over the tooth will drop into the space between that tooth and the next, and will then be raised by the next tooth to register a second time.

It is thus clear that if a nickel, dime or quarter be dropped in the slot and the main wheel be turned by the handle 12 through its full permitted movement, the coin carrier will be moved one, two or five parts of the movement of the main wheel. The pawl '70 through ratchet wheel 76 will turn the pin wheel one, two or five teeth and register one, two or live times on the registering mechanism.

Upon the end of the shaft 10 outside the support 26 is the ratchet 34 consisting of a segmental rack, whose central angle is slightly less than the permitted movement of the main wheel 28. At the base of support 26 is pivoted a pawl 86, normally held by a spring 88 secured to the base 2 in vertical position. The teeth of the rack and the length of the pawl are of such proportions that the teeth of the rack which first strike the pawl will push it to one side and movement in the same direction is permitted. However, it an attempt is made to reverse the direction of the rack, the teeth will strike the pawl and prevent such reverse movement. However, when the stroke is completed, the pawl slips oil the last tooth, and on the return stroke again acts to prevent reversal of movement during the stroke. By having the central angle of the rack less than the full movement of the rack, a slight space is left at each side of its movement so that the pawl can slip off the teeth and be pushed to the opposite side for return movement of the rack. Reversal of the operation during a stroke is thus prevented.

The movement of the main wheel 28 and of the pawl carrier 30 is limited as follows: Below the wheel and carrier and between the uprights there is a stop member on the V-shaped member 22 having sides 96 and 92, as shown in Fig. 4. On the segmental plate 62 is 2. lug 94 which engages side 92 of the stop to limit the movement of the carrier in a counter-clockwise direction, as in Fig. 3, the lug being so placed that it will locate the coin carrier 56 directly beneath the slot 16. Also secured to the base is an upright 96 in the plane of the coin carrier, so that upon movement in a clockwise direction the post 58 of the carrier will strike the upright and limit the movement of the carrier. The upright also carries a member 98 extending from one side into the line of movement of the lug 44. The lugs 42 and 44 extend from the flange a suiiicient distance so that when the wheel 28 is turned counter-clockwise (Fig. 4) the lug 44 will strike member 98 and limit the movement, while in the clockwise direction lug 42' will strike side of the stop and prevent further movement.

On the lower side of member 64 is a screw 100 which holds one end of a coil spring 102, the other end of which is secured to the base as at 104 When the pawl carrier is moved in a clockwise direction, the spring tends to return it to its original position.

In order to discharge the coin from the coin holder the following mechanism is provided. Upon the upright 96 is a spring tongue 106 which lies between the main wheel and the pawl carrier, and the end of this tongue presses into the groove 36 in the main wheel. It is clear that upon movement of the wheel clockwise, a coin carried in the wheel will pass under the spring tongue and press it out of the slot. When the coin has passed, the tongue again enters the slot, and upon return movement of the main wheel and coin carrier under the influence of the spring 102 the tongue will pass under the coin and press it out of the coin carrier, permitting it to fall intodrawer 4. As long as there is a coin in the coin holder, there is a driving connection between the main wheel and the pawl carrier. When the two are moved clockwise, in Fig. 3, the registering mechanism is operated. If, when the clockwise movement is stopped by lug portion 42 striking stop 90, the handle is released, spring 102 will tend to pull the pawl carrier and, through the driving connection made by the coin, the main wheel, back to their original positions. At a certain point in this movement spring tongue 106 will force the coin out of the coin holder and break the driving connection. The mass of the driving wheel is such that its momentum will move it through the remaining distance to its original operating position.

In order to prevent the spring tongue 106 from obstructing the slot and the gap 40, the tongue is provided with a lug 108 on its top, having a cam surface 110. Upon the return of the wheel 28 to its first position, the lug portion 42 strikes the cam surface and pushes it, with the spring tongue, to the left (Fig. 2) As soon as the main wheel starts to turn the lug 42" disengages the cam and the tongue moves back to engage in groove 36.

As shown in Fig. 9, the ratchet wheel 76 has teeth '78 engaged by the pawl 70. The teeth 78 have one side 112 almost in a radial line, while the other side, which is engaged by the pawl, consists of a small nose 114 on the end of the tooth and a notch 116 behind the nose, so that when the end of the pawl is engaged in the notch it cannot slip out. As shown in Fig. 8, the pawl en gages the ratchet wheel at a high angle, and thus on the return movement of the pawl carrier under the influence of the spring the pawl glides over the ratchet without affecting it.

It is thus clear that if a coin be dropped in the slot 16 and the handle oscillated, the registering mechanism will be operated differentially depending on the value of the coin and the device will be returned to operative position, while the coin will drop into a receiver. not be reversed during a stroke, so that the counter must register properly. After the coin is counted, the device is returned to operative position automatically; but if no coin is counted, then it is necessary to return the handle and main wheel by hand.

The device can be used in any machine in which it is desired to count the sum of coins of different denominations, as in street car fare boxes or the like. Obviously it can be modified in many ways, as for other coins of different sizes. The structure can be modified in other ways as well, de-

" invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for counting coins of various denominations, a member adapted to hold coins to be counted, means operated by oscillation of said member to operate a counter, a wheel adjacent said member, means for turning said wheel, and a plurality of members on said wheel at various points around the circumference and The handle canat diiferent'distances from the center thereof, adapted to engage coinsof different denominations held by said first-named member, whereby turning of said wheel will move said first-named member differentially, said coins being held in planes parallel to the plane of said wheel, and forming a driving connection between said wheel and said coin holder.

2. In a mechanismfor counting coins of various denominations, a coin holder, means operated to operate a counter mechanism proportionately to the movement of said coin holder, a wheel, means for turning said wheel, a plurality of means on said wheel for engaging coins of different denominations held in said coin holder, the coins forming a driving connection between the wheel and coin holder to operate the coin holder differentially, a groove in said wheel, a spring tongue pressed into said groove, means tendingto hold said coin holder in its initial position, said tongue being adapted to pass beneath a coin in said holder during return movement thereof after the counting operation is accomplished to push the coin out of the holder, whereby the driving connection is broken during the return movement of the coin holder and wheel said wheel thereafter completing its return movement by momentum alone.

3. In a mechanism for counting coins of various denominations, a main wheel, stops limiting the movement of said wheel, a rotatable coin holder adjacent said wheel adapted to hold coins of three different sizes in planes parallel to the plane of said wheel, means operated by movement of said coin holder in one direction to operate a counter mechanism proportionately to the movement of said coin holder, said means being ineffective when the coin holder is moved in the opposite direction, means for oscillating said wheel through a forward and return stroke, a flange around the circumference of said wheel, the inner side of said flange being spaced from said coin holder by a distance less than the diameter of the coin of intermediate size but greater than the diameter of the coin of least size, a lug on the outer portion of the flange adapted to engage the coin of largest size but to pass over the coin of intermediate size, a second lug on said flange spaced from the first lug and adapted to engage the coin of intermediate size, an inward projection on the bottom of said flange between said lugs adapted to engage the coin of smallest size and an ejector to eject the coin during the return movement of the coin holder, said lugs and projection being so spaced with respect to the permitted movement of the wheel as to engage the coins in the coin holder during portions of the stroke proportional to the value of th'e coins and thus operate the coin holder differentially, whereby the counter mechanism is operated proportionately to the value of the coins counted.

4. In a mechanism for counting coins of different denominations, a coin holder, a wheel, means for oscillating said wheel, means on said wheel and coin holder cooperating with the coin to be counted for connecting said wheel and coin holder for oscillating said coin holder differentially in accordance with the value of the coin to be counted when said wheel is turned, means for automatically returning said coin holder to initial position after a coin has been counted, and means operable during the return stroke of said coin holder to discharge the coin therefrom whereby to release the connection between said sumoient mass to return to its initial position by momentum alone after said connection has been released.

5. In a mechanism for counting coins of various denominations, a coin holder, means operated upon movement of said coin holder for operating a counter mechanism, a wheel adjacent said coin holder, means for turning said wheel, members on said wheel at various points around the oircumference and at different distances from the center adapted to engage coins of different denominations, the coins thus forming, a driving connection between said wheel and said coin holder, and means operating on said coin holder through the coin for returning it to initial position and for exerting a force on said wheel to give it momentum for returning to its initial position.

6. In a mechanism for counting coins of various denominations, a coin holder, means operated upon movement of said coin holder for operating a counter mechanism, a wheel adjacent said coin holder, means for turning said wheel, memhere on said wheel at various points around the circumference and at diflerent distances from the wheel and said coin holder, said wheel having center adapted to engage coins of different denominations, the coins thus forming a driving connection between said wheel and said coin holder, means operating on said coin holder through the coin for returning it to initial position and for exerting a force on said wheel to give it momentum for returning to its initial position, and means operable during the return stroke of said coin holder for removing said coin therefrom to break the connection between said holder and said wheel, said wheel returning thenceiorth by mo ntum alone to its initial position.

7. In a mechanism for counting coins of different denominations, a coin holder, a wheel, means for oscillating said wheel, means on said wheel and coin holder cooperating with the coin to be counted for connecting said wheel and coin holder for oscillating said coin holder differentially in accordance with the value of the coin to be counted when said wheel is turned, and automatic means operating on the coin holder, through the coin for returning both said members to initial position after a coin has been counted.

l BEN SHELBY WALLICK. 

